Annual Canarsie Holiday Exhibit To Be Dedicated To WTC Victims

Annual Canarsie Holiday Exhibit To Be Dedicated To WTC Victims

A long tradition in Canarsie will be upheld once again this year as the beautiful Victorian house at the corner of East 93rd Street and Flatlands Avenue is turned into "North Pole South" for the holiday season.

Thanks to Assemblyman Frank Seddio and his family, owners of the house, the whole community has been invited to a giant tree-lighting ceremony next Sunday, December 2nd at 5 p.m.

Seddio says Santa Claus will be there, of course, along with his reindeer and a troupe of his helpers, as well as a host of many costumed characters, including Frosty and Rudolph and Barney.

"We’ll make sure Santa talks to all the youngsters on hand so they can get an early start in asking him for certain presents this year," Seddio said.

Musical renditions will be on hand as Canarsie’s own Steel Drum Band "Dem Stars" perform and the children’s chorus from P.S. 279 will entertain the onlookers with Christmas carols.

This year, Seddio says, the display will include depictions of Kwanzaa and Chanukah lighting ceremonies as well as the newest feature, a 10-foot lighted hot-air balloon that will rise 30 feet in the air.

There are six different window displays, which include a Disney Christmas, Winter Wonderland, Santa’s Workshop, Winter Wizard and Mr. and Mrs. Claus resting the day after Christmas. There is also an outdoor Reindeer Carousel.

"Every year, the holiday display has been dedicated to a local Canarsien who has contributed to the betterment of the community," Seddio said, "but this year we feel it is more fitting that we dedicate the ceremony and exhibit to the victims of the World Trade Center."